Replacing a Tooth with a Dental Implant changes everything
One of the most common options to replace a missing tooth is with a dental implant.
Dental implants are the real deal! Did you know that dental implants enhance your smile by giving you teeth that look, function, and feel like your natural teeth and last for many years to come? If you’ve been dealing with missing teeth, then now is the time to finally restore your smile and boost your confidence and oral health. Whether you’ve dealt with tooth loss from decay, an accident, or wear and tear – we love helping our patients restore missing teeth with successful, long-lasting dental implants.
What Happens When You Lose a Tooth?
When a tooth is lost, the bone that used to support it disappears quickly.
This leads to:
- shifting teeth
- tooth trauma and periodontal disease
- aging of facial features and unnatural gums around a future tooth replacement
- lack of bone support for future tooth replacement
Gone are the days of looking older than necessary because of a sagging jawline due to one or more missing teeth. (And dentures are no longer the only option!) Dental implants offer a permanent replacement for missing teeth and an effective solution that will look and feel as natural as your original teeth. And an implant may cost far less than you expect.
Read this Implant Overview by The American Dental Association
Related Article: Restore Missing Teeth with Dental Implants
What Are Dental Implants and Their Advantages?
Made from titanium, dental implants act like artificial roots that can be permanently placed in the patient’s jaw bone to support a replacement tooth – often included in dental treatments with dental crowns, dentures, or bridges. As the gum tissue and bone grow around the dental implant, they become a permanent anchor. A natural-looking porcelain crown will be custom made giving our patients a beautifully finished result that is attractive, yet helps improve chewing, maintain bone and prevent teeth from changing positions. Implants are also the only option that can replace a tooth and prevent bone loss because those titanium roots act like natural tooth roots and promote new bone growth; they can even prevent future problems with a patient’s bite.
If you are a dental implant candidate, they also,
- Prevent teeth from shifting toward any gaps, which can alter your bite or facial structure
- Restore facial structure and youthful smile
- Feel and function just like your natural teeth
- Provide no eating restrictions
The Dental implant procedure is one of the most predictable and safest procedures in dentistry. They’re very durable and can last a lifetime if they are taken care of. Gone are the days of looking older than necessary because of a sagging jawline due to one or more missing teeth. (Dentures are no longer the only option!) And a dental implant cost may be far less than you expect.
An Overview of Dental Implant Surgery from Mayo Clinic
Replace a Tooth: Basics of Implants
Humans have been inventing methods for replacing teeth for hundreds of years – tracing back to ancient civilizations. Today’s modern science has created a wonderful solution for missing teeth that has a huge success rate – dental implants. So, what are they exactly?
Dental implants are devices consisting of small posts often made of titanium used to replace a tooth. These posts are replacements for natural tooth roots and will connect to an abutment, which is built on top of the implant post. The abutment allows the artificial tooth to be connected to the implant post. Three parts come together to create one naturally-looking, strong tooth.
Getting a dental implant requires a surgical procedure. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to make sure you’re pain free, and then the titanium implant will be placed into the jaw bone. Before the surgical procedure takes place, you will meet with your dentist to come up with a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.
Learn More: What to Know About Dental Implants
Replace a Tooth: Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are so popular because of their many benefits and success rate. Dental implants replace a tooth by:
- Give you back your chewing ability and normal bite
- Are cleaned just like your natural teeth, so they’re low maintenance
- Prevents bone loss in the jaw
- Are stable and permanent
- Prevent your other teeth from becoming misaligned
- Restores your quality of life
- Look like your natural teeth
- Boost confidence
- Benefits your oral health and overall health
Learn more about Dental Implants HERE.
Learn more about why this popular treatment to replace a tooth is so successful through some of our blogs:
Are You a Good Dental Implant Candidate?
If dental implants sound like a good option for you, it’s helpful to know if you may be considered a candidate for them. You and your dentist will discuss this in more detail, but here are some of the basics:
- Healthy enough for surgery
- Good oral health hygiene habits
- Right amount of bone mass for the implants
- Teeth and gums are in good standing health
- Patience for the process, it can take some time to be fully completed
- Willing to invest the time for dental implants – which can take multiple appointments
- A non-smoker or willing to stop smoking
These are common signs that your dentist will look for when considering if you’re a good dental implant candidate. Sometimes, your dentist may also look at why the teeth are missing.
Customized Restorative Dentistry that is Best for YOU
If you are interested in tooth replacement, it’s a good idea to discuss it carefully with Dr. Anderson first. If you are in good general health, one of these tooth replacement options, dentures, bridges, or dental implants, should be a good fit for you. In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia, may interfere with healing and patients with these issues may not be good candidates for certain replacement options. Remember, using tobacco can also slow healing, regardless of which type of treatment you decide on.
Schedule a consultation with an implant expert at the offices of Thomas L. Anderson, DDS and Associates to see if you are a dental implant candidate for our implant technology. It might be the perfect remedy to preserve a youthful appearance and restore the function of your bite.
Contact us today to schedule your dental appointment and meet with our skilled dentists at one of our three conveniently located dental office locations within the Kansas City area, including Lee’s Summit / Independence, the Country Club Plaza and Downtown Kansas City. The gentle dentists and expert team at Thomas L. Anderson and Associates look forward to working with you to treat your dental emergency, achieve proper oral health and a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions about your dental insurance benefits, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to review your policy! Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment and become part of our dental family.
